A radio host I heard today thinks so.
During the brief time I had the station on, there was a recording of Milstein playing Chausson’s Poème, followed by a recording of Wilhelm Bruns playing Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3 on the natural horn. Both were stunning.
Since the word “overachiever” got my attention, I looked it up. My first reaction was, I have to say, negative.
Are musicians who are proficient on an instrument overachievers?
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines “overachiever” this way:
one who achieves success over and above the standard or expected level especially at an early age
That suggests some questions.
- What is the “standard” or “expected level?” in playing an instrument?
- begin lessons and quit when you find out you have to practice?
- stick it out through high school? college?
- get good enough to join an amateur group?
- Some musicians are not especially proficient at an early age, but develop later. What about them? Are they “overachievers,” too, or is there a different category used to describe them?
The implication, to me, is that we should not want to be “too good.” And it resonates with the view of some politicians who would prefer not to make college accessible to everyone. But that is a whole different topic.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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